Art of preserving.



N. l. DARDEN.

ART 0f PRESERVING. APPLlcATloN FILED ocT. is. 1912.

Patented Feb. 6,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l svN N. J. DARDEN.

ART 0F PRESERVING.

ArPucATloNflLl-:u ocT.15. m2.

Patented Feb. 6,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2l.

www? W W N. J. DARDEN.

ART or PR'EsERvlNG. APPLICATION FILED OCT-15.1912.

1,215,254. Patented Feb. 6,1917.V

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Q1-emanen.. ART or PnEsEnvmvG.

Peteeted Feb. 6,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 0, .7m 9 1. W e

m H W AP M m m L w A i mm we ,ee/a, v.uw ww .m 6. .e f Q0. .b M e f ,7, fe e .l .0 e Z Mv NEWTON J. DAnnEN, or MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

Amr or PaEsEavme.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Feb. 6, 19th l I Application filed October 15, 1912. Serial No. 725,872.

To all whom z'tmay concern:

lB e it known that I, NEWTON J. DARDEN'-, a citizen of'the United-States, residing at Memphis, inthe county of Shelby andState of Tennessee, have linvented certain new and useful Improvements inthe Art of Preserving, of which the following isla specication. This invention relates to the art ofpreserving organic substances or materials, such as fruits', vegetables," meats and other like products, and ps rrticularlyl to an improved process forreducing the products 4or materials to be' preservedto a. safe preserving fluid.

temperature, controlling this temperature,

and subjecting the materials'.or prcwflucts to the 'washing action of an asept1 gas or The leading objecbof the'invention is to provide a preserving process which, will be completein-its steps, and Which'will operate to control v the tem'perature'fof the products or materials to be preserved and tocleanse said products or. materialsfof all gases and germs byl the washing action of uniformly directed currents of air..-

- 'Another object of the invention is to provide -a process for cooling the products or materials' to be preserved without' injuring the tasting qualities of said` products or materials.

A still lfurther object of the invention is to provide a 4complete preservation rocess which embraces steps for gradually and thoroughly-cooling the materials or products 'to be preserved, and steps for thoroughly sterilizing said materials or products, with the aid of ozonized, aseptic, dehydrated air, controlled from a pressure source control- -ling` the cooling influence.

A still 'further objectv of the invention is to provide a process for vpreserving organic 4products or materials, including steps of ine closing the organic products or materials in hermetically sealed containers in which absorbing means for taking up the released gases are intermingled with the material orproducts, washing the organic products or material'with a cold, dry, aseptic and ozonized air so as to sterilize and thoroughly cool the inclosed mass, expanding a cooling gas ing process.

on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

through around the containers simultaneously with the washing of their contents, andsurrounding the materials 'or products while inclosed with aninert gas, such as nitrogen, so as to preserve the edects of the washing and sterilizing process.' if

The invention further embraces certain combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts and certain lsteps carried out '.therewith, fully described-in the; following specification and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which`:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the appa- .ratus employed in carrying out the preservtop plan View of the cooling.

. Fig. 2'is a cabinet.

' Fig. 3 is' a horizontal sectional view, taken Fig.z 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a sealing coupling and operating device there- Fig. 104 is a detail perspectiveview showing .thebit of the, device.

modified bit.

In carrying out my invention or improved process the organic products or material to be preserved, such as fruits, ve etables,

,as Fig. llOais a'detail''persp'eetiwe view of a meats or other eatables, are arrange in hermetically sealed containers or cells, and

thesecontainers or cells subjected to the cooling infiuence ofa compressed gas Aex anded exteriorly thereon, while theinclose products or materials are subjected to the washing action of dehydrated, cold, aseptic, and Y preferably ozonized currents of air, while the products or materials are intermixed with absorbent means .or balls for taklng up the gases released by the enzeinic action of the cells thereof. By these steps, eciently' carried 'out by the improved apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, sterilization and cooling are simultaneously efected. v

Experience -in handling-fruit has shown that the temperature ci the fruit should.

be reduced to a preserving temperature as soon as possible alter picking, and within twenty tour hours, 'to attain the best results in preservation.` 'lhis reduction of temperature should ybe uniform throughout the mass oi fruit or material to be preserved, and all tree germs and gases should be eliminated by sterilization and washing..

the ripening process oi iiruit, and in meats during the period immediately 'iol- '.lowing killing, an enzeinic action takes place,

during which period gases are generated.,v and during decomposition or decay other gases are generated. rlhese gases, 'enzemic' e and decompositional, are negative vfactors dil in preservation, and their influence, must be reduced toa minimum to atta-in eiiicient phere also tends to minimize the periodduring which the organic products can be satisfactorily preserved and it is likewise vital that the atmosphere oil the organic products being preserved be as dry as possible. ln the present icing systems this is impossible.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an "apparatus for efficiently carrying out the process, which is adapted to cold storaging or extensive preservation, but which may' be in'odied for household application upon a more modest scale.

ln these drawings 5 denotes the cooling.

cabinet, the walls of which are formed ot suitable heat insulated material, and this cabinet is provided with a plurality oi in'- lets tor the removable containers or cells 6. The traine work of this cabinet iscomposed of angle iron supports and beams 5', suitably united, and providing horizontal shelf supports 7, on which the containers or cells 6 normally rest. The rear wall 8 is provided with doors 9, suitably bolted in position, and the iront wall 10 is provided with suitable doors ll. held in place by bolts 12, the inner ends'of which are pret-v erably embedded rin the cabinet structure,

the other ends projecting through saiddoors il 11 and being engaged by the door holding nuts l2 The cells or containers 6 are so constructed as to'be adapted for use either for storage o r transport of food studs, or for use iirst in storing theffood studs and then in transporting the food studs to the 'maiam Vvlret, and holdin the saine in their protected -atmosphere lduring the period awaiting sale and consumption.'

As a cooling means l employ compressed air, whichmay be derived from any. supply.,

such as a compressor 13. The air is directed. trom this supply source by means oi a pipe lll, on which a check valve la is arrang-ede il The pipe le connects with va. vertical leed pipe lll, which communicates with the botN tom air intake and mining chamber l5,

the tank lb, which'is adapted to hold Aais and' water under pressure.

'The mixing chamber i5v has a top-*wall fl?, through which a pipe i7 extends to Ytorni communication with thevr airchain er i8, through its bottom wall i8. This chainber or tank is surrounded by a waterjaclret-l ing tank i9, providing a space 19 iorwater.

A dome or cap piece 20 lits on the tanlrs lli and 18, covering the water space i9 and the chamber i8. A pipe 22 having communi- Galion With the water spacel i9 amends t 'll-lmugh the dome to an elevated water sup,-

ply tank 23, and a pipe 2t has communica tion with said tank 28 and the air chamber i8, through the bottom 18 of said chamber..

' Plhe top wall i7 of themixing chamber lv-"5 l5 is termed with curved portions lo, in this chamber, on opposite sides oi t' .e airis ol the 'pipe eed'li, two freely rotatable wheelsl 25y are arranged upon shafts iournaled in the wall ol said chamber l5 -llach wheel, hasradial blades', the ends olf which are adapted to closely llt the ovciam head curved portion i6. 'lhe water space i9 is lnormally filled with water from the u gravity Pessuiesupply tank 23. 'The tins ci the blades of the wheels 25 are slightly spaced from 'the bottom ol the chamber to provide water passages.

The compressed air dowingy into the chana- ,n ber 18 through the inlet pipe 17 creates a suction and exerts -a stream force upon the blades-or the wheels facing inwardly, thus rotating said wheels, and the spaces between the wheel blades form pockets for the water.,

so that uniform quantities of water are :led

to the air stream and a toorapid water feed is prevented. rlhe action of the inflowing air upon the rotating water wheels tends to evaporate the films of water adhering to said blades and to agitatel the Water. thus 'f intimately mixinrr the renewing au wat ew water, and consequently promoting the eilicient washing o'f the air by the water.

. lime' or dehydrating element 32a vu per end of the air in the tank '18. The 'water tankihas a;

suitable water of the water..

gage for indicating the height A. supply pipe 27 'receives air fromv the chamber 18, through the-dome 20, and has a portion 28, shown depending from the dome- 20, which supplies air cabinet and its cells. to be connected at its cut oli' valve 29,

form a trap 3 0 in said pipe 29. The pipe 28" is equipped with a valve 28". A closure cap 29 is threaded-on said pipe 29. The

ter casing 31, which lias'conical end portions 31,

the filter due to the obstruction of the filter elements. filter 32, shown in section in Fig.' 7, and this lilter comprises an element` 32", for dehydrating or drying the vs aturating air,

which consists of unslaked lime; an element- 32", for absorbing ases, consisting of charcoal'in its most sultable, form; andjan Iele ment 32, for filtering germs, consisting of cotton, in its mostsuitable condition.. The is arranged on a screen 32', over the trap 30, the charcoal or gas e inating element 32" is .v arf ranged on a screen 32"', over the lime'or de:

hydrator; and the'germ filter or cotton is arranged on a screen 32"', over the charcoal 32". i The three elementsare united to form a cartridge easily insertible and removable.

The arrangement of the filter elements is designed for a definite purpose. The air coming through the? water becomes more or less saturated and the elimination of the moisture therefrom placing the vlime or dehydrator lowermost the saturated air passes through` the lime iirst, thusV giving up its moisture. The elimination of the moisture by the lime results in a certain amount of slaking, during which process water vapor or'steam is released. The upwardlyl owing air stream carries a part of this water vaporor. steam with it, while a part is caught by the trap 30. The charcoal being immediately above the lime. arrests the further flow of the gas and prevents the clogging of the .germ filter', which is positioned above it. The air after passing through the dehydrator Vand the gas eliminator is still charged with germs, which are collected by the fibers of the cotton. As the air enters the filter pipe 29 it strikes against the wall of said pipe opposite the inlet and the heavyparticles carried by it are precipitated into the trap, while smaller in. size than to the refrigerator. The pipe 28 is shown' lower end tothe filter pipe 29 by the branch 28, which carries the and said valveis spacedconsiderably below the pipes 29 and '28 to y'pipe 36 to lateral pipes 37 tical pipe 29 is connected to a provided to compensate for the inf. creased resistance to the flow of air through to provide a nipple 6".

The filter casing 31` contains a" -tube 6' termmates closely to the cover. 6,

" has a plurality of open are operated vby means is very important. By'4 f preserved.

the lighter particles are arrested by tion of the. dehydrator screen 32a.

vThe filter casing v31 has anf outlet '33, the pipe 29, and which communicates with the pipe 34, which pipe 3.4' leads to the` ozonizer 35, 'which may be of any type'and whichY is positioned on lthe cabinet 5. f This o zonizer may be to charge the airvwith as much as cent, of ozone. The ozonizer outlets by a and 38, which have cut olf valves 37 and 38', respectively.

the ac- 'The pipe '37 communicates with the horizontalpipe- 39, which supplies the front veristributers 40, which Each container or cell 6 comprises a tank 6, which has an 'end wall 6",.through which the perforated air tube 6c is extended, the outer end of whichprojects The 'free end o f Athe which -is Aheld inhermetical sealing position by suitable means. Through this cover 6"- a short 'tube- 6 v projects, '43. The inner end of communicates with the end pipe 6g, which portions 6". Cut of valves 6i are located on said. end pipe, and

project through the cover 6. The end wall 6" is provided with an'internal end pipe 6,

having a plurality of'open portions 6, lo'- cated near the wall of the container or cell, and said end pipe 6l is provided with cut off valves 6?, operated through project through the end Wall.

' he airis initially distributed through the container or cell by means of the .which is perforated throughout its length, so that there will bean efficient lateral dis-- tribution, and the 'exhaust is through the end tube orpipe 6g. After the current of washing air has been directed through the organicproducts 'or vmaterials contained in the container or cell, the air is Washed of the gases of decomposition and the waste matter taken upduring `its passage 'over and 'through the organic materials,

apparatus to be reused in .the 'cleansing and from the end'wall 6" of vstems 61, which f Pipe 6er and is dehy- Vdrated, and sterilized and' returned to the uipped v'e per arel provided with Ys 41, from-which the flexible tubes 42 lead to .the'j inletr nipples 43 of the contain- Aers or cells'.

forming the nipple said nipple tube 6.

stems 6, which preservation of the organic materials t'o be The' container or cell 6 is designed for extensive preservingand is made to withstand It is provided with an absorbent 6, in the form of charcoal balls or` blocks, shaped to correspond .with -the shape of thel fruit-or to conform to the shape of other organic products packed in the container.

`The amount of charcoal' balls used will depend upon the amount of gases generated y'la nection between the exible tubes and the distributors 40. The pipe 33' connects with the rear. horizontal pipe 45, which isconnected with the vertical distributers 46, the lower endso which are connected with the lower horizontal exhaust pipe .47. This pipe 47 connects, at its forward end, with thepipe 48, which is connected with the trap inlet 49, which leads to the trap 50, from which a pipe 5l leads back to the compressor i3. rlhe front distributing pipes/ are' connected at their lower ends with the pipe '52 which connects with the trap 50. A pipe is located centrally beneath the cabinet 5 and has communication through itsconverging door by means ci inlets 56 with the cabinet chamber, and is connected to the trap 50.

(iooling huid or air under compression is supplied tothe cabinet chamber by means of 'a pipe 57, which' has communication with the pipe 28, and said pipe 28 has communication with pipes 58 and 59, which eX- tend forwardly and rearwardly and which have communication ywith thev distributing pipes 60 and 6l, which are inclosed by the cabinet '5 and are perforated to spray air against the containers or cells 6 and in the cabinet chamber. rlhe expansion oi this air exerts a cooling inuence upon the contente ci the cells. 'lhe ends of the-pipes 66 and 6l project through the cabinet 5 and are capped by closures 66' and 6l.

l 'lhe upper side pipes 39 and 45 are con nected at their forward ends to pipes 62 and 63, and these pipes 62 and 63 connect withthe inlet feed pipe 34. vllhe dow of air between the pipes 62 and 63 and 39 andv45 is controlled by their rear ends thepipes 39 and 45 connect with each other, by means of a pipe 64, which can besupplied with an inert gas, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxid, or other like gas, by means of a feed pipe 65 and a supply tank 66. A valve 39 is located on the pipe 39 and a valve 45 is located on the pipe 45 for controlling the dow of the air. The pipe 34 is provided with a pressure valve 34.l 57'., and the pipe 24 has a pressure valve 24. AC cut o'valve 22 is located on the pipe 22.

The above described piping system is designed foi-'the lpurpose of enabling the operator or engineer to instantly reverse the direction of how of the air through the cells and through the cooling cabinet. By operating the proper valves the ozonizer can be cut in or cut out and the charge delivered fromdi the ozomzer to the piping system regu.-

ate

means of valves 62'7 and 63. At

The pipe 57 has a pressure valve Lainate ln order to secure a positive seal of the cells a special coupling, shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 10, and means for operating the same, employed. This coupling consists of a sleeve 67 having a section 67a enlarged to to provide an internal seat 67, and provided with internal screw threads 67 f to engage the external screw threads on the sleeve section 67d; A gasket 68 is seated against the seat 67 and the inner end of the section 67d is threaded in the enlarged end of the section 67=1 and is adapted to compress said gasket, which is slightly wider than its seat. Y'lhe section 67 a is threaded on the nipple 43 and the section 67d is threaded on the lcoupling 69, which has a lateral branch 70. The in ternal threads of the sections 67a and 67d are right and lett, so that the nipple and the T 69 will be drawn ltoward the gasket as the sleeve 67 is turnedand at the same rat-e ,of speed, or moved apart as desired.

en it is desired to disconnect the from the supply dexible Atube an inte nut 71 is moved into the nipple 43 by of a nut holding wrench consisting -oi a f f-f 7 3 and a handle 74. The bit 73 has a we?. ing end shaped to t the nut with which it is to be engaged and has a longitudinal here therethrough. 'lhe inner end ot the b' f has threads 7 3 and end projections spaced apart to it inthe recesses 75 forward end ci the handle tube 74. il sleeve 77 is threaded on the tubular handle 74 f l is adapted to straddle the `ioint between i bit and said handle and to engage the f ternal screw threadson said bit, so as to holo. the bit positively to the handle. p i Y.lhe internal sealing nut 7l is formed i a central. screw threaded socket 7l. wL is adapted 'to receive the threaded end of the nut holding rod 78, which "i 1"" through the bit 73 and the tubular h 7 4. The tubular handle 74 is entendv through a pacg bon79, connected Tmoupling 69, and the rod 76 is provi with a handle 7 82' on its upper 'end and tends through the packing. borv 86.

By turning thenut holding rod 7 8 the not 71 may be secured to the end oi the wrenc bit 73 and the nut threaded-in the'nippl or rictionally held in the upper' end oi T-couplingin inoperative position 69.

Fig., 16 shows a slightly modied iorm of bit consisting of a bit 8l having slots 62 forming spring hngers 83 which are adapt ed to expand to engage the under cut or straight wall of the nut socket. These spring gers are expanded hy means of the rod 7 8,l which operates by direct thrust stead of by turning.

Normally the valves 62 and 63 are closed, so that the air will pass through the ozonia-er, and thel valve 37 is normally' open. while the valve e 6 is normally closed ir m willY then. through the cacnizer M@ L lil most wholesome results from the action' 'ofwthe sterilizing and ozonized air: currents.

The valves 39 and .45 are normally closed and are'opened only when it is desired to I ert gas will displace the air in the cells, aftersupply the inert gas from the tank 66, when the valve. 57 is closed, while the exhaust pipes are left open so that the inflowing inwhich they are sealed and transported with the inert gas, which provides an inactive atmosphere for the organic materials or prodicts. By charging the cells with the inert gas above atmospheric pressure ,contaminated air cannot enter the cells. The abnormal pressure of the inert gas causes it to' penetrate the pores ofthe fruit or other organic product, and thus acts to arrest the production or evolution of carbon dioxid gas in the fruit or organic products being preserved.

By my improved process fruit or other organlc products can be preserved without noticeable change in their aroma, tasting qualities,color orl appearance.

In the present system of refrigeration the atmosphere surrounding the organic substances or products being preserved is saturated with moisture, which condenses in the low temperature in the interstices of the products, expanding in frost in the pores of the v:fruit or other organic substance, thus disrupting the organic fibers, cold scalding the surface portions of the fruit, while the aroma, taste, color and appearance is either weakened or destroyed. These results are avoided in my improved process.

The charcoal packed with the organic prodsubjecting the organic substance to be preserved to a washing current of aseptc, ozonized air and washing and reusing said air as stated.

3. The preserving process consisting in subjecting the organic substance to be preaseptic' ozonized ing Said air as-stated.

subjecting the organic substance to -beLpre served to alternated washing currentsif'i: 'y

air and washing4 and reus-"'- e preserving process consistingl in "7'0 served to alternated washing currentsl of;

aseptic, cold ozonized air and :washingand f reusin said air as stated.

dry, aseptic, cold ozonized air and cleansing and reusing said air as stated.

6. The subjectin the organic material to be preserved to a sterilizing washing current uniformly distributed throughr the material and cleansingiand reusing said air as stated. v l

7. The preserving process .consisting in subjecting the organicv `substance to be preserved to a washing ing air ilowed in dlrect contact with the organic substances, products taken up by said flowed air'from said air and reuslng said air in a cold and sterilized state.

8. The preserving process consisting in subjecting the organic substance to be preserved to alternated washing currents of cold sterilizing air, washing, dehydrating atlild reusing said air in a cold and sterilized 9. The preserving 'process consisting in placing the organic material to be preserved in a hermetically sealed container, subjecting the material to a coldaseptic current of air distributed internally through the material, absorbing the gases generated by the material, and cooling the container with an expanded gas.

11. The preserving process consisting in inclosing the organic material to be preserved in hermetlcally' sealed containers, arranging these containers in a cooling cabif net, maintaining a continuous circulation of -compressed air in diverging paths, one of said paths being through the cabinet and around the containers to Acool the same andv the other path being through the containers,

the air passing through the cabinet being saturated with moisture and the air passing through the containers being charged with ozone.

12. The process of preserving consisting in inclosing the organic material to be preserved in closed containers, circulating a saturated cooling gas around said containers and circulating the same gas dehydrated, sterilized and ozonized through the containhe preserving process consisting in I subjecting' the organic material to be preserved vto alternated washing currents of' current of cold sterilizeliminating the organic ers and maintaining the gas in constant circulation by a common pressure medium.

13. The process of preserving conslstmg in inclosing the organic material to be pre -served in closed containers, circulating a saturating compressed cooling gas around the contalners and circulating the same gas dehydrated, .sterilized and ozonized through the containers, returning the gas to a common path and maintaining the gas in motion by a common pressure medium.

14. The process of preserving consisting in inclosing the organic material to be preserved in closed containers, subjecting the contents thereof' toa sterilizing action when inclosed, absorbing the gases generated by the contents by means mixed therewith, and surrounding the contents after such treatment with an inert gas.

15. The process of preserving consisting in inclosing the organic material to be preserved in closed containers arranged ,1n

spaced relation to each other to provide v air spaces therebetween, circulating compressed air through said air'spaces, circulating compressed air through the containers in direct contact with the organic material in the containers, ozonizing said air before its passage through the containers,

passing said portion through the containers.-

17. The preserving process consisting inv circulating a cooling. gas through the organic products to be preserved and in direct contact with saidp'roducts.

18. The preserving process consisting in circulating a cooling gas in alternated directions through the organic products to be preserved and in direct contact with said products.

19. The preserving process consisting in circulating a compressed gas through the organic products to be preserved and in expanding said gas in direct contact with the products.

20. An aseptic preserving process consisting of packingthe or anic substance to be treated in an air tig t vessel adapted to serve as a commercial package in commercialtransportation, Ventilating the package internally to eliminate undesirable gases, and subjecting the substance While in the return thereto.

asienta package to the Washing action of an aseptic, 65

dehydrated, cool ozonized` air current directed through said substance under pressure and expanded in direct contact with said substance, and externally cooling said package during storage and transportation.

21. An aseptic preserving process consisting of packing the organic substance to be preserved in an air tight container adapted to be externally sealed, eliminating the gases generated by said substance While in the container, subjecting said substance while in the container to the washing action of an aseptic, dehydrated, cool ozonized air directed through the container in intimate contact with said substances and expanded in intimate contact therewith, reversing the ovv of Said air current at intervals of time, displacing said ozonized air by an inert gas 4under pressure exceeding one atmosphere,

and maintaining said'container with its contents in a keeping temperature during storage or commercial transportation.

l22. The preserving process whichconsists of inclosin the material to bepreserved in 9@ an air tig t container, Washing said material with an ozonized, cooled aircurrent, and displacing said air with nitrogen.

23. The preserving processl consisting in inclosing organic substances to be preserved in hermetically sealed containers, circulating a compressedaseptic, cold gas through said containers and in directicontact with the material contained therein, whereby' said gas will take up the heat of the organic materials and carry on the products of organic change, passing said gas after ,itsi passage through. the containers through' a cleansing process to eliminate the organic substances taken up thereby, and returning said cleansed gas to lthe containers for reuse.

24. The process of preserving consisting in inclosing the organic substances 'in hermetically sealed containers, maintaining a constant continuous circulation of a cold and aseptic gas through said containers and owing said gas in direct contact with the organic substances, and cleansing said gas after leaving said containersi and before its 25. The process of preservingconsisting in inclosing the organic products to be preserved in a closed container, maintaining a continuous circulation of a compressed cold gas through said container and flowing said gas in its passage through the container so as tov contact withsaid products and take up the products of organic change produced thereby, and cleansing, dehydrating, sterilizingand'cooling said gas after its passage through said container and before its return to the container.

26. The process of preserving coiating in inclosing the organc'prod'ucts'tobe presaid zcleaneed, dehydrated, ozonized and 4served in a hermetically sealed container, cooled gas to the container. y 1u introducing a cold, ,asept1c, ozonized gas into In testimony whereof I aIix my signature said container so that the gas will contact in presence of two-witnesses. t 5 with the organic products, exhausting said NEWTON J DARDEN. gas from said container, cleansing, dehy- Witnesses: I, drating, oz'onizing and cooling said gas ex. WALLACE J .,HILL, hausted from said container, and returning RAE SmGEL." 

